This summer provided us with plenty of LeBron James drama regarding his future with the Lakers.
From his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, mentioning four teams having contacted him regarding a trade for LeBron, to cryptic social media posts from James that could be viewed as taking shots at the Lakers, it was an entertaining offseason of evaluating why James was wearing certain hats or had a Clippers logo in his Instagram post.
However, it was much ado about nothing. The facts are that LeBron opted into his deal and will be playing for the Lakers for an eighth consecutive season, marking the longest single stint he has ever had with one team.
Still, he’s entering this season as an expiring contract. James has never played with the Lakers without another year being on the table. With reports indicating that LeBron didn’t ask for an extension and the Lakers didn’t bring it up, is this his last year in Los Angeles?
Tim Bontemps published his NBA offseason survey on ESPN and talked to league insiders regarding LeBron’s future. The most popular answer regarding where James will play at the start of the 2026-27 season was still the Lakers.
As James enters his 23rd NBA season, and after the drama that played out after he opted into his contract this summer, there has been plenty of speculation about his future. There was far from any sort of consensus among the respondents here, however, with one Eastern Conference scout summing up the general sentiment well.
“If I was taking the Lakers or the field,” they said, “I’d take the field. But I’ll take the Lakers over any specific team, especially given they are the one with a clear path to pay him.”
Despite uncertainty about LeBron’s future, the Lakers are still a compelling option. He’s clearly established himself as a leader for this franchise, his son plays for the team and his former podcasting co-host is the head coach.
With the Lakers only having Luka Dončić, Jarred Vanderbilt, Bronny James, Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero under guaranteed contracts for the 2026-27 season, they will have plenty of flexibility and cap space to come to an agreement with LeBron if he so desires.
And, if the Lakers have another 50-plus win season this year and get closer to a title, perhaps Los Angeles still provides him with the best place to win and get paid.
With James it has to be actions over words. He might make a sly comment here and there, but until he actually makes a move or says emphatically he’s doing so, try not to read into every little thing he does as an indicator he is leaving the Lakers or is done with basketball altogether.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
